Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas' top military leader and younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a high-level meeting of Hamas commanders in Khan Younis, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing Arab and Hamas sources.
The strike, which occurred on May 13, targeted an underground tunnel where senior Hamas officials had convened, breaching the group's usual security protocols.
The meeting's location beneath the Gaza European Hospital provided the IDF with an opportunity to eliminate multiple high-value targets, including Sinwar and Muhammad Shabana, commander of Hamas' Rafah Brigade. The precision and timing of the strike demonstrated Israel's significant intelligence capabilities, the report said.
Sinwar, known for maintaining a low profile and nicknamed "The Shadow," was instrumental in Hamas' military operations and had succeeded his brother Yahya as the de facto leader in Gaza after Yahya's death in a clash with Israeli forces in October 2024. His death reportedly leaves a significant void in Hamas' leadership structure.
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According to the report, Sinwar's body was recovered from the tunnel a day after the attack and was buried in another tunnel, with plans for a formal burial after the war ends. While the IDF has not officially confirmed Sinwar's death, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel had received indications that the Hamas leader was most likely dead.
The elimination of Sinwar and other senior commanders is expected to impact Hamas' operational capabilities and may influence ongoing ceasefire negotiations.